Family approves killer’s sentence

Life without parole called best punishment

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:52 p.m.

Family members of a Fayette woman who was killed in 2010 agreed that life in prison with no possibility of parole would be the best punishment for her killer.

Kennety Ray “Rudy” Fluker admitted that he raped, robbed and killed Patricia Adair, 55, on Aug. 14, 2010. He avoided a trial and potential death sentence in exchange for the guilty plea entered in court Monday. A jury heard a shortened version of evidence in court Tuesday morning in a “mini-trial” that is required in all capital murder cases. Jurors found Fluker guilty on a charge of capital murder during the course of a robbery and capital murder during the course of a rape.

Chris McCool, district attorney for the 24th Judicial Circuit that includes Fayette County, said he spoke with Adair’s daughters and siblings before offering the deal.

“They unanimously agreed, and concurred, that this would be the least painful resolution of the case for them,” McCool said. “A trial is difficult and would have taken no less than two weeks. Even if he’d been given the death penalty, there would have been a series of appeals over the next 15 to 20 years that they would continue to deal with.”

Attorneys were prepared for a capital murder trial scheduled to begin Monday. The plea offer was discussed last week and over the weekend, McCool said.

“It’s an agonizing decision, but we felt that this was the best thing to do in this case,” he said.

<p>Family members of a Fayette woman who was killed in 2010 agreed that life in prison with no possibility of parole would be the best punishment for her killer. </p><p>Kennety Ray “Rudy” Fluker admitted that he raped, robbed and killed Patricia Adair, 55, on Aug. 14, 2010. He avoided a trial and potential death sentence in exchange for the guilty plea entered in court Monday. A jury heard a shortened version of evidence in court Tuesday morning in a “mini-trial” that is required in all capital murder cases. Jurors found Fluker guilty on a charge of capital murder during the course of a robbery and capital murder during the course of a rape. </p><p>Chris McCool, district attorney for the 24th Judicial Circuit that includes Fayette County, said he spoke with Adair's daughters and siblings before offering the deal.</p><p>“They unanimously agreed, and concurred, that this would be the least painful resolution of the case for them,” McCool said. “A trial is difficult and would have taken no less than two weeks. Even if he'd been given the death penalty, there would have been a series of appeals over the next 15 to 20 years that they would continue to deal with.”</p><p>Attorneys were prepared for a capital murder trial scheduled to begin Monday. The plea offer was discussed last week and over the weekend, McCool said.</p><p>“It's an agonizing decision, but we felt that this was the best thing to do in this case,” he said.</p><p>Judge James Moore sentenced Fluker to life with no parole on Tuesday.</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>